MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jeff Hafley’s Miami Dolphins won’t take the field for a meaningful game for another 121 days, but the Dolphins now know who they will play, when and where they will play, and what time kickoff is scheduled.
Here’s one spoiler alert: Miami will not have any primetime games in 2026.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of the Dolphins’ 2026 schedule.
Week 1 at Las Vegas Raiders (Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m. ET)
As mentioned Thursday, it will mark the third time in franchise history that the Dolphins open a season against the Raiders (1966, 1975) - including Miami’s first game as a franchise in 1966. No. 1 overall pick and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who grew up in Miami, could face the team he grew up watching.
Week 2 at San Francisco 49ers (Sept. 20, 4:25 p.m. ET)
The Dolphins will stay on the West Coast and visit Levi’s Stadium, where quarterback Brock Purdy and a vicious 49ers defense await. Interestingly enough, Purdy’s first NFL appearance came against the Dolphins on Dec. 4, 2022, when he threw two touchdown passes in a 33-17 win over Miami.
Week 3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 27, 1 p.m. ET)
Hafley’s first regular-season game at Hard Rock Stadium will feature quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion; tight end Travis Kelce; and, well, maybe Taylor Swift. It will also be Dolphins fans’ first in-person look at quarterback Malik Willis.
Week 4 at Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 4, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Miami will see a very familiar face in former head coach Brian Flores, who has become one of the NFL’s better defensive coordinators since being fired in Miami. Similar to Las Vegas’ situation, the Vikings are dealing with a quarterback controversy involving Kyler Murray, acquired this offseason, and J.J. McCarthy.
Week 5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET)
It was a nightmare for the Dolphins the last time the Bengals flew to Miami Gardens, as quarterback Joe Burrow torched Miami’s defense for 309 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 45-21 blowout win on Dec. 21, 2025. The classic Tua Tagovailoa-Burrow matchup no longer exists in Miami, with Tagovailoa now with the Atlanta Falcons.
Week 6 Bye (Oct. 18)
It is no secret that the Dolphins have a daunting early schedule, but in terms of keeping players healthy throughout a long, 17-game season, having their bye week in mid-October may be a benefit for a young Dolphins squad.
Week 7 at New York Jets (Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
The Dolphins’ first divisional matchup of the 2026 season will be on the road against the Jets in late October. Welcome back to New York, Geno Smith, who was born in Miramar, Florida, and whom the Raiders traded to the Jets for draft compensation.
Week 8 vs. New England (Nov. 1, 4:25 p.m. ET)
The Super Bowl runner-up from a season ago will make its annual trip to South Florida to start the month of November. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has taken the next step under head coach Mike Vrabel and will look to continue that success against Sean Duggan’s defense. This is Miami’s only late-window home game of the season.
Week 9 vs. Detroit Lions (Nov. 8, 1 p.m. ET)
Another familiar face Dolphins fans can look forward to seeing is Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell, 50, took over as interim head coach after Joe Philbin was relieved of his duties during the 2015 season. Detroit has an explosive offense, featuring running back Jahmyr Gibbs; quarterback Jared Goff; tight end Sam LaPorta; and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Week 10 at Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 15, 1 p.m. ET)
It remains to be seen whether Colts quarterback Daniel Jones will be the starter after Jones tore his Achilles tendon in December 2025 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Dolphins fans would rather not talk about the previous meeting between the two teams at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Week 11 at Buffalo Bills (Nov. 22, 1 p.m. ET)
The Bills are set to open their brand-new Highmark Stadium ahead of the 2026 season, so this will be the Dolphins’ first visit there. Hafley is hoping to do something previous Dolphins head coaches could not accomplish, and that is have success against quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills. Including the playoffs, Miami is an abysmal 3-16 against Buffalo since 2017.
Week 12 vs. New York Jets (Nov. 29, 1 p.m. ET)
The top storyline for this game may be draft positioning, with the loser in the driver’s seat for a higher first-round pick. By this time, Dolphins fans will have a larger sample size to determine whether Willis is their quarterback of the future.
Week 13 at Denver Broncos (Dec. 6, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Dolphins fans who are traveling to Empower Field at Mile High may want to consider bringing plenty of layers to stay warm. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is in the process of recovering from a devastating right ankle injury suffered in their playoff win over the Bills last season, which ultimately required surgery, but he is expected to play in this game, assuming he is medically cleared. And before I forget, the Dolphins will also see their former teammate, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Miami Gardens.
Week 14 vs. Chicago Bears (Dec. 13, 1 p.m. ET)
It should be a perfect afternoon for football in Miami Gardens, with cooler temperatures expected to set in. For all of you Ben Johnson nerds, get your tickets now. The Bears are one of the more fun teams to watch in the NFL.
Week 15 at Green Bay Packers (Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET)
I know we’re only in May, but Hafley, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, and Willis already have this date circled on their calendars at the team facility. Another cold December game, and temperatures may be well below freezing.
Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Dec. 27, 1 p.m. ET)
Gone are the memorable debates about whether the Dolphins should have selected Justin Herbert over Tagovailoa in the first round back in 2020, but there are other big storylines - notably the return of former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, now the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles after four seasons with Miami.
Week 17 vs. Buffalo (Jan. 3, 2027, 1 p.m. ET)
Upsets happen every season in the NFL, and one big upset in 2025 came at Hard Rock Stadium, when the Miami Dolphins bullied the Buffalo Bills 30-13 on Nov. 9, a game that saw Dolphins running back De’Von Achane — who was recently awarded a new contract extension — run for a game-high 174 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 18 at New England Patriots (TBD flex game)
For the second straight season, the Miami Dolphins will close the regular season at Gillette Stadium, and yet it’s another cold-weather game for Miami — a narrative they’re looking to kill well before Week 18. Second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers started the season finale in 2025.
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